Archives for August 2011

Pearl S. Buck, from The Child That Never Grew, written about her daughter with Down syndrome.It’s the track and field regional finals of the Special Olympics. The stadium at the University of Texas, Arlington, is electric with the shouts of friends and relatives. An army of compassionate volunteers crowds the field, lining up runners, tracking the winners, cheering contestants in the spirit of the Special Olympics motto: Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.I watch as these cheerleaders position themselves at the finish line of the 100-yard dash, one for each lane. When the gun sounds, they focus raptly on their athlete; for just a divine moment, that boy or girl, man or woman is the most precious human being in the arena.The diversity is amazing, from preteens through adults, spanning a wide gamut of impairments. We shout our encouragement for all of them, especially a young man in his late 20s. Left in the wake of his peers, he jerks, not walks, towards … [Read more...]

Three years ago — so yesterday. Thirty years ago — ancient history.We can bristle, or we can adapt. I recommend adapt — and enthusiastically, because technology, diversity and changing lifestyles are opening important opportunities for ministry.The challenge is to be as diversified in our ministries as the world around is diversified.Here are two critical areas where we need to up our game:PHYSICAL ACCESSDriving: Except for a few congregations in dense urban centers, we have been car-based for the past 60 years. In fact, many congregations relocated (or started) along Interstate highways, where it was assumed everyone would drive to church. Hence, a need for large and well-maintained parking lots, entrances near parking, and activities that didn't compete with rush-hour driving patterns. Driving is still the norm, but it's changing.Walking: Young adults are choosing homes and services where they can walk, not drive. They are gravitating to cities, where downtown housing is available … [Read more...]

Although it is currently being discussed between the Vatican and several Protestant churches [including PC(USA)], on a local level it remains a serious concern. The issue is the modern fencing of the Lord’s Table by official Roman Catholic policy, i.e., the refusal to allow non-Catholics to receive Mass.No doubt it could be argued that Catholics have every right to define the privileges and limitations of their own members. But in many churches it is made clear in church bulletins that non-members are not welcome to participate in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper at any time. This restriction extends to public events, weddings and funerals. At a recent Mass of Public Burial, for example, one open to the whole community, the following was printed in bold letters in the bulletin.Only participating Roman Catholics in the state of grace(free from mortal sins) should come forward for HolyCommunion at this or any Catholic Mass. Non-Catholicsand Catholics who are unable to receive … [Read more...]

“Reformed spirituality necessarily begins with a stunning vision of God’s grandeur,” he writes. With joyful imagination, he argues for the truthfulness of his theological forebear, John Calvin, in declaring that “the world is the theater of God’s glory.”Lane is an incisive theologian who teaches American religion and the history of spirituality at the University of Saint Louis. Beyond his considerable theological insight, Lane knows his subject from his own experiences hiking in wild and wonderful places. This book is the fruition of years of exploring such wilderness and connecting its delight with the theological tradition that has formed him since childhood.Reading Lane one is reminded of the poet Mary Oliver, who offered these “Instructions from the Lord: Pay attention, be astonished, tell about it.” This is precisely what he has done in this book. More importantly he has searched the writings of John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards and a host of influential Puritan theologians to bring … [Read more...]

The forces of national security did not protect our homeland from terrorists turning our own planes into deadly missiles. “We Shall Overcome” was first sung by Americans who faced generations of violence against home and family. It echoed in South Africa, East Germany, and Czechoslovakia. When we face our fear, anger, and grief, we, too, can be transformed by God’s powerful grace to act with courage and hope. Please join me in silent reflection on the events of this year.
SILENCE
All sing: We shall overcome,
we shall overcome,
we shall overcome some day.
Deep in my heart, I do believe,
we shall overcome some day.
Leader: In the wake of 9-11, our differences faded. We stood united one nation under God. Our common grief released a flood of compassion. Citizens left their jobs, traveling thousands of miles, to care for the wounded, to remove the debris, to search for the missing, to bury the dead, to comfort the grieving. Please join me in silence to give thanks for the unity … [Read more...]

From its colorful front cover onward, this readable adventure of one family’s journey invites us into the rich relationships of life: life with land, with food, with children, with neighbors, with local communities, with God.The story is a creative journey alongside “one suburban family, four rules, and 365 days of homegrown adventure in pursuit of Christian living.” The four rules are these: local; used; homegrown; homemade.Most of us, I suspect, haven’t given deep thought to what planting peppers, raising chickens and buying local has to do with abundant life, much less faith. Author and pastor Craig Goodwin and his wife Nancy (also a pastor) find themselves in a Seattle Thai restaurant following a burnout Christmas season, yearning for something more. The genius in “Year of Plenty,” like a parable, is its simplicity. The book invites — through personal experiment — a thoughtful analysis of the Gospel in its deeper implications when it comes to issues of food, everyday faith and … [Read more...]